{"id":213452,"date":"2026-04-17T12:30:43","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T03:30:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/?p=213452"},"modified":"2026-04-17T12:33:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T03:33:12","slug":"tokutei-zairyu-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/blog\/tokutei-zairyu-card\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan is combining the zairy\u016b card and My Number card \u2014 here&#8217;s what you need to know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Starting June 14, 2026<\/strong>, Japan&#8217;s Immigration Services Agency (ISA) is rolling out a major change that affects every foreign resident in Japan: the zairy\u016b card (\u5728\u7559\u30ab\u30fc\u30c9) and the My Number card (\u30de\u30a4\u30ca\u30f3\u30d0\u30fc\u30ab\u30fc\u30c9) can now be combined into a single card called the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.moj.go.jp\/isa\/tokutei.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Tokutei Zairy\u016b Card<\/strong><\/a><strong>(\u7279\u5b9a\u5728\u7559\u30ab\u30fc\u30c9)<\/strong> \u2014 or &#8220;Specific Residence Card.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What&#8217;s changing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Right now, most mid-to-long-term foreign residents hold two separate cards:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A <strong>zairy\u016b card<\/strong> (issued by Immigration)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A <strong>My Number card<\/strong> (issued by your local city\/<a href=\"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/blog\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-a-ward-office-in-japan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ward office<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Any time your residence status changes \u2014 like renewing your visa, changing your visa category, or moving to a new address \u2014 you currently have to update <strong>both cards separately, at two different offices<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under the new system, you can apply for a single <strong>Tokutei Zairy\u016b card<\/strong> that functions as both. When your immigration status is updated at the Immigration bureau, your My Number card information will be updated at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who is eligible?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can apply for the Tokutei Zairy\u016b card if you are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A <strong>mid-to-long-term resident<\/strong> (\u4e2d\u9577\u671f\u5728\u7559\u8005) recorded in the Basic Resident Register (\u4f4f\u6c11\u57fa\u672c\u53f0\u5e33), <strong>or<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A <strong>Special Permanent Resident<\/strong> (\u7279\u5225\u6c38\u4f4f\u8005), who can apply for the equivalent <strong>Tokutei Tokubetsu Eijusha Shomeisho (\u7279\u5b9a\u7279\u5225\u6c38\u4f4f\u8005\u8a3c\u660e\u66f8)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You must already be registered as a resident. <strong>New arrivals will still receive a standard zairy\u016b card at the airport<\/strong> because the combined card cannot be issued at the airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is it mandatory?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No. The combined card is entirely optional, just like the My Number card itself. You can continue carrying your zairy\u016b card and My Number card as two separate cards if you prefer. If you don&#8217;t opt in, you&#8217;ll receive the new-format zairy\u016b card instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the benefits?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The card can be used as a <strong>My Number health insurance card (\u30de\u30a4\u30ca\u4fdd\u967a\u8a3c)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It can be used as a <strong>My Number driver&#8217;s license (\u30de\u30a4\u30ca\u904b\u8ee2\u514d\u8a31\u8a3c)<\/strong> (note: you&#8217;ll need to re-register your license info at a police station after receiving the new card)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your <strong>nickname\/\u901a\u79f0\u540d<\/strong> can be printed on the card, just like the regular My Number card<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where and when can you apply?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Applications open <strong>June 15, 2025 (Monday)<\/strong> \u2014 the first business day after the system goes live on June 14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At a Regional Immigration Bureau, you can apply when doing any of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Visa renewal (\u5728\u7559\u671f\u9593\u66f4\u65b0)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Change of visa status (\u5728\u7559\u8cc7\u683c\u5909\u66f4)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Permanent residence application (\u6c38\u4f4f\u8a31\u53ef)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Re-issuance of your zairy\u016b Card<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reporting a change of address details (non-residence-related)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>At your City\/Ward Office, you can apply when registering or changing your address (\u8ee2\u5165\u5c4a etc.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Special permanent residents handle everything at the city\/ward office, as before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"898\" height=\"491\" src=\"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-4.png\" alt=\"Photo booth for taking passport-style photos\" class=\"wp-image-213461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-4.png 898w, https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-4-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-4-768x420.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 898px) 100vw, 898px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What documents do you need?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To apply, you&#8217;ll need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Tokutei Zairyu card application form (\u7279\u5b9a\u5728\u7559\u30ab\u30fc\u30c9\u7b49\u4ea4\u4ed8\u7533\u8acb\u66f8)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A PIN\/password setup request form (\u6697\u8a3c\u756a\u53f7\u7b49\u8a2d\u5b9a\u4f9d\u983c\u66f8)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One passport-style photo<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>You&#8217;ll also need whatever documents are required for the immigration procedure you&#8217;re combining it with (e.g., visa renewal documents).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long does it take?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Tokutei Zairyu card takes approximately <strong>10 days longer<\/strong> to issue than a standard zairy\u016b card, due to the additional My Number integration process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What about the new-format zairy\u016b card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if you don&#8217;t apply for the combined card, the <strong>design of the standard zairy\u016b card is also changing<\/strong> from June 14, 2026. Key changes to the new-format card:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Some details move off the card face<\/strong> \u2014 &#8220;Period of stay,&#8221; &#8220;Type of permission,&#8221; &#8220;Date of permission,&#8221; and &#8220;Date of issuance&#8221; will no longer be printed on the card. Instead, they&#8217;ll be stored in the card&#8217;s IC chip.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>My Number (\u500b\u4eba\u756a\u53f7) will be printed on the back<\/strong> of the new-format card \u2014 but only if you have the combined Tokutei card. The standard new-format zairy\u016b card will not show your My Number.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Validity period extended for permanent residents<\/strong> \u2014 instead of 7 years, the new-format card will be valid until your 10th birthday after issuance (or 5th birthday if under 18).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Children aged 1\u201315 will now have their photo on the card<\/strong>, matching My Number card rules.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>However, your existing zairy\u016b card remains valid and you don\u2019t need to switch it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can you apply online?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not yet. For now, the Tokutei Zairyu card application <strong>cannot be submitted through the Immigration Online Application System (\u5728\u7559\u7533\u8acb\u30aa\u30f3\u30e9\u30a4\u30f3\u30b7\u30b9\u30c6\u30e0)<\/strong>. If you want the combined card, you&#8217;ll need to visit an Immigration bureau window in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quick summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td>Launch date<\/td><td>June 14, 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Application available from<\/td><td>June 15, 2026 (first business day)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Who can apply<\/td><td>Mid-to-long-term residents + special permanent residents registered in the Basic Resident Register<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Is it mandatory?<\/td><td>No \u2014 optional<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Where to apply<\/td><td>Regional Immigration Bureau or City\/Ward Office (depending on procedure)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Processing time<\/td><td>~10 days longer than a standard zairy\u016b card<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Airport issuance<\/td><td>Not available \u2014 airports only issue standard zairy\u016b cards<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Online application<\/td><td>Not currently supported<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a genuinely useful update for foreign residents in Japan. If you&#8217;ve ever had to spend an entire day bouncing between the Immigration bureau and ward office just to update your address or renew your visa, you&#8217;ll appreciate something that\u2019s actually streamlined here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To learn more about life in Japan, make sure to check out <a href=\"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/blog\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">our blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Starting June 14, 2026, Japan&#8217;s Immigration Services Agency (ISA) is rolling out a major change that affects every foreign resident in Japan: the zairy\u016b card (\u5728\u7559\u30ab\u30fc\u30c9) and the My Number card (\u30de\u30a4\u30ca\u30f3\u30d0\u30fc\u30ab\u30fc\u30c9) can now be combined into a single card called the Tokutei Zairy\u016b Card(\u7279\u5b9a\u5728\u7559\u30ab\u30fc\u30c9) \u2014 or &#8220;Specific Residence Card.&#8221; What&#8217;s changing? Right now, most [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":174,"featured_media":213453,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[399],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-213452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-drink"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213452","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/174"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=213452"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213452\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":213470,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213452\/revisions\/213470"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/213453"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=213452"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=213452"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=213452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}